National Q3 2016 PCA Index Findings Infographic

Once a quarter, Pepperdine University’s Graziadio School of Business and Management and Dun & Bradstreet poll small and medium-sized businesses across the nation to learn more about those companies growth and access to capital. Overall, the Q3 2016 Index findings revealed that small businesses are scrambling to secure working capital.

Despite steady increases in access to credit since 2012, when the study began, and an increase in demand for credit compared to the same time last year, small businesses are scrambling to secure working capital, according to the third quarter 2016 Private Capital Access (PCA) Index report.

Nationally

For small businesses surveyed, 31% qualified for a bank loan in the last three months, while almost 100% of medium sized businesses surveyed qualified.

Over half of small businesses feel their ability to grow is restricted and 48% feel their ability to hire is restricted as well.

Yet, 59% of small businesses are in need of financing due to planned growth and 61% are planning to hire in the next 6 months.

As a result of this discrepancy in what businesses need vs. what they report getting, 33% of small businesses relied on various types of personal assets to fund their company, including: business credit cards – 63%, personal credit cards – 55%, and personal loans – 48%